Rockets' coaching search about more than checking boxes

1of2Interim Rockets coach J.B. Bickerstaff, left, tried to inspire a stronger feeling of pride from his team in the playoffs. The next Rockets coach, whether he is broadcaster Jeff Van Gundy or someone else, likely will need to be prepared to bring a culture change.Photo: Wilfredo Lee, STF

2of2Interim Rockets coach J.B. Bickerstaff, left, tried to inspire a stronger feeling of pride from his team in the playoffs. The next Rockets coach, whether he is broadcaster Jeff Van Gundy or someone else, likely will need to be prepared to bring a culture change.Photo: Gary Coronado, Staff

Rockets general manager Daryl Morey laid out the arguments he can make to sell the Rockets to a prospective coach should that be needed.

That likely will not be necessary. The Lakers and Nets, winners of 38 games between them, landed fine coaches, Luke Walton and Kenny Atkinson, respectively. The Rockets, with 10 consecutive seasons without a losing record, a top player and cap room to spend, all qualities that Morey pointed to in his season-ending media availability, ought to present a compelling case.

Morey might have been warming up his free-agent pitch or rebutting the media critiques that clearly had gotten under his skin. But while describing qualities that could attract coaching candidates, he was considerably less effusive in defining what the coaches he interviews will have to say to sell themselves to the Rockets.

With Morey describing a wide-open search in which he will not look to check off boxes on a predetermined list, he might be sold most on a coach that can bring the more ambiguous but greatly needed culture change.

From players citing "chemistry" to J.B. Bickerstaff showing video of Golden State's intensity, focus and selflessness between games and calling for greater esprit de corps after they were over, the Rockets seem to need more from their next coach than an impressive list of out-of-bounds plays or pick-and-roll coverages.

All about defense

Morey offered one clue. He said the Rockets' slide began with the fall of the defense. The mission of the next coach will start with repairing it. Any coach who gets in the room for one of the Rockets' customary marathon interview sessions will have to demonstrate how he would rebuild a defense that fell from sixth to 19th in one season.

That likely will be only the start. Morey disputed the depiction of the Rockets' chemistry problems, saying that they were no greater than is typical when teams play badly and that the chemistry was no worse this season than it was good with the same players last season. But anyone privy to all those team meetings could describe dysfunction that will have to be addressed.

Next season's coach will have to demand or inspire that kind of change and likely will have to convince Morey, Rockets owner Leslie Alexander and CEO Tad Brown that he can turn the Rockets into a team built to win in the postseason.

As much attention as has been focused on the Rockets' stars, James Harden and Dwight Howard, from Harden's defense to Howard's offense to their combined often awkward partnership, next season's coach will have to demonstrate he can get the next Rockets team to do the "little things" that are required to win big in the postseason.

The Rockets were the worst defensive rebounding team in the NBA. They were 27th in turnovers. They were a poor passing team. They set screens badly. They were slow to loose balls. They had terrible floor balance, leading to weak transition defense.

With the exception of rebounding, none of those categories show in stat sheets. They are qualities that win games as the Warriors - for all their record-setting shooting and celebrated stars - demonstrated. Morey is well aware of all of that, even if he was in no mood to list the Rockets' shortcomings when so many others were rushing to do that for him.

Few clues

He also offered little about what type of résumé he will seek, from former head coaches such as Jeff Van Gundy, Lionel Hollins or Jeff Hornacek to current assistants such as Adrian Griffin, Ettore Messina, Jay Larranaga or Jim Boylen.

He was equally evasive about any sort of system he would favor. Alexander still believes in an up-tempo offense that uses 3-point shooting for spacing. Morey indicated the Rockets will not look for a coach to run a particular system.

The Rockets' use of analytics has been often discussed, but Morey has never hired a coach who has relied heavily on the data his staff provides, with Rick Adelman considering little of it and Kevin McHale only samples.

Alexander never has chosen a coach without head-coaching experience, but the Rockets looked extensively at assistants when McHale was hired and will again.

With the process just starting, other than the research the Rockets prepared throughout the season, Morey insisted there is no profile of the coach the Rockets will choose.

When the interviews begin, however, there will be much to discuss. Improving the Rockets' defense will only be a start, with the repairs needed going well beyond any one issue.

Jonathan Feigen has been the Rockets beat writer since 1998 and a basketball nut since before Willis Reed limped out for Game 7. He became a sports writer because the reporter that was supposed to cover the University of Delaware basketball team decided to instead play one more season of college lacrosse and has never looked back.

Feigen, who has won APSE, APME and United States Basketball Writers Association awards from El Campo to Houston, came to Texas in 1981 to cover the Rice Birds, was Sports Editor in Garland before moving to Dallas to cover everything from the final hurrah of the Southwest Conference to SMU after the death penalty.

After joining the Houston Chronicle in 1990, Feigen has covered the demise of the SWC, the rise of the Big 12 and the Rockets at their championship best.